The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-06-04
The Reformers ~

If any doubts existed in the minds of Demo
Gratis as to the real motives of Messrs. Cowen,
Hamilton, Wallis and johnson, in their al
legged campaign for reform, their performance
nj Easton last week should be sufficient to
remove them. By their utterances there, in
which they doubted the sincerity of the Dem
ocratic State Central Committee in its action
taken to insure fair and free primaries, they
have placed themselves without party lines.
Men who are not willing to abide by the de-
cision of the majority, after opportunity for
free expression of sentiment, cannot be ex-
pected to be considered party men, and can
not be taken into party councils. AS to Mr.
Cowen, we never knew that he ever had any
right to speak as Democrat Certainly his
voice and pen have not been used to further
party success in the last eight or ten years.
During that time, at least, whenever he has
appeared upon the hastings or in print, it has
invariably been in opposition to the party,
and in severe criticism of its course. Gov
Hamilton has done the Democratic party no
service for about the same period. Because
he failed to receive the nomination for Gov
ernor in 1875, he sulked and rendered little
or no aid to the ticket. Because the party
refused to follow his dictation when he was
Governor, from 1880 to 1884, he has been an
agitator and disorganizer ever since. Mr..
Wallis was originally Wing, and came to
the Democratic party through stress OF CIR
cumstances. Can any one point to any act
or utterance of his for the past twelve years
intended to further Democratic success? He
was candidate IN opposition to the party IN
1875, and whenever he has appeared npublic
since, in political way, it has been in oppo-
sition to the party. Gen. Johnson's record
is little better. He has done what he could
for the party after tickets have been named,
but his influence has been quite limited owing
to his disorganizing utterances prior to nomi-
nations. As "Reformer," too, his record
is not good. Fraud was introduced in the
Democratic primaries in Richmond, Virginia,
for the first time, we believe, when he was
candidate for the State Senate, and also in
the election following, and the report OF the
Senate elections committee, admitting him to
a seat in that body, was not above suspicion.
And it is a wellknown fact that Gen. John
sons popularity in Richmond and the State
of Virginia began to wane after that time,
and few tears were shed when he left the state.
1t is true that he was escorted to the steamer
by the First Virginia Regiment. on his de-
parture for Maryland, but such demonstra-
tons are often meaningless and the result of
the efforts of few enthusiastic friends.
The Democratic party at all times should
give a patient hearing to Democrats who
have any supposed valuable suggestions to
make, but men who undertake to suggest and
direct should have good party records them
selves. None others have right to be heard.
And especially is this true of Messrs. Cowen,
Hamilton, Wallis and johnson. Their records
have not been good for ten or twelve years.
Even after the party, through its accredited
representatives, have taken action to insure
fair primaries, and thus give opportunity for
a full expression of sentiment, they stand
aloof from the party they profess to love, and
in justification declare their disbelief in the
sincerity of the Democratic State Central
Committee. If these gentlemen were ever
entitled to any consideration by the Demo
cratic party, they are certainly not now. They
have put themselves without the party organ
ization, and are not entitled to be heard any
further
The real object of these self styled reform
ers, although they outwardly profess solieitude
for the Democratic party, and attempt to show
Encouragement, is the displacement of Mr..
German and the destruction of his power.
Nothing short Of resolution expelllng Mr..
German from the party would satisfy them.
If they are Democrats, they should be willing
for the majority to govern. Then if they
want to displace Mr.. German, let them do so
by manly course. Let them put up candi-
dates opposed to him in the primaries and
endeavor to reorganize the State Central Com
mittee. and when his Senatorial term expires,
use their endeavors to defeat him. If they
are willing to try this within the party, they
have a perfect right to do so, and if they can
induce the majority to vote their way no good
Democrat, nor Mr.. German, will complain,
but accept the result, in accordance with
Democratic usage. That wouldbe the manly
Democratic way Of doing it. The course
they are now pursuing is ani-Demoeratic and
is calculated to disorganize the party. Any
further persistence should lead to their ex-
clusion from participation in primaries or
conventions of the Democratic party. Men
who are not willing to go into primaries, es-
pecially when every precaution is taken to
insure honesty and abide by the decision of
the majority, are not entitled to any consider
alton by the party.